Here's the perfect way to apologize the next time you're late

As it turns out, becoming a leader in the workplace isn't simply
a matter of getting a promotion. "It's achieved through the way
you handle mundane, everyday interactions at work," explains
psychologist Ron Friedman.

"A great [example] is when you're late and someone's upset that
you're late," Bregman tells Friedman. "Most people will
apologize and offer an excuse. I'm sorry I'm late. This meeting
ran over,' or 'I'm sorry I'm late, I really couldn't leave that
client meeting.'"

What you're basically conveying in that moment is intention: "I'm
sorry I was late, I didn't intend to be late," he explains. "But
the person who's been waiting for you for twenty minutes isn't
experiencing your intention. They're experiencing the impact of
the result."

"'Sorry for keeping you waiting' is an apology to the impact
versus, 'Sorry I was held up; the train was late. I couldn't help
it,' which is being sorry about the intention," Bregman
says. "It's a subtle difference, but it makes all the
difference for the person who's sitting there.

"A behavior to replace excusing is to describe your impact — to
acknowledge the impact you've had on the other person," he
concludes.